It was a quiet type of day. From early morning
coolness the temperature transitioned to very warm. Clouds occasionally
covered the sun providing some relieve from the sun. There were no other
options. There were no trees by the side of the road and there were no overpasses.

For the first 20 or 30 kilometres there was
a frontage road beside the I-90 providing for some quiet cycling. Along
the way saw a magpie for the first time on this trip. Must be closer to
the prairies.

We were cycling in a plain between two mountain
ranges that appeared only as bumps, not mountains.

Went by the Anaconda pit mine where the dump
trucks have their own roads. The headway between the trucks was just a minute
or two. It was a busy road.

At Opportunity a hamlet, the road stopped with
arrows at the intersection to go left or right. There was no information
on how to get on to the I-90, as there was no exit at that point.

A car pulled up and the irritated driver asked
if we knew the area. Our response was no. Apparently, he left the I-90 to
find a toilette. He has been driving for a few kilometres and ended up on
what appears to be a dead end road. We told him of the last village that
we proceeded through and he impatiently took off.

We got busy with the Montana map and found out
that one had to turn right and proceed to Opportunity, make a left, and
then a left on to Highway 1, and then there was an entrance back on to I-90.
Just about 5 kilometres diversion and we cold continue on our journey. What
was funny was that after we left the intersection and had gone about 100
metres, there was a blue port-a-toilet by the side of the road. If the driver
had not been so impatient we could have helped him out.

The cycle was basically upward for the first
40 kilometres having started at 1380 metres in Deer Lodge. Then a 200 metres
rise had to be climbed and then we continued up and down into Butte where
we climbed to downtown at 1730 metres and then, after a restaurant stop
descended to 1670 metres at he hotel.

Once the climb started the winds changed and
came from the south with more intensity as it sailed through the Pass. Now
it was a head wind. We were now in a bowl with mountains all around.

Now downtown, it was enjoyable to sit on the
balcony of the restaurant under a roof and overlook the plains of Butte.

Not too strenuous of a day. A longer day is
coming tomorrow.

Cycling Facilities

I-90

Today, most of the way the I-90 had cycleable
rumble strips broken every 6 metres or so to allow switching from the wide
paved shoulder to the traffic lane.

The I-90/15/I-115 intersection to downtown is
just impossible for cyclists wishing to go downtown. Some signage for cyclists
would be really useful. As one descends down the I-90 the road bends to
the right. Then a four lane bridge needs to be crossed. This bridge does
not have any room available for cyclists so one has to go on the inside
lane. Then maybe 50 to 75 metres past the bridge there is a wye on a bend
with the road dropping vertically. To go downtown one has to cross two I-90
lanes to get to the left leg of the wye. Visibility at this stage is non-existing
for cars barrelling down the road at the supposed posted speed of 120 kph.
It is much saver to cross the bridge and then immediately cross the traffic
lanes to the left shoulder, go down the left lag and then cross to the right
side of the road after the leg.

Butte

Cycling in butte was not enjoyable. The roads
are not designed for cycling and the drivers are too egotistical and just
barrel down the road. The gutters are not cycling friendly being set below
the road level.

There appears to be a cycling path beside the
I-90 but it is not signed. A cycling map for this city could not be found
on the internet.